I Am Not the Person I Used to Be

I am not the person
I used to be-
And I have been slow
To accept
And fully embrace
That this IS the story
God has written for me.

My darkest moments-
Have taught me to see
A deeper meaning
In the light,
And this life.
And when my battles
Grew harder,
I began to
Better understand
The power
Behind my fight.
Crying even harder-
About all of the
Most beautiful reasons-
Behind my why.

I am not the person
I used to be.
I am still-
A work in progress,
And learning so much
About the new me-
Daily.

When you have been stripped
Of physical attributes
You once identified
Yourself by,
You get to the good stuff,
And are humbled and reminded
Of all that really matters-
In this life.

I am not defined
By the darkness
Or the obstacles
I overcome.
But I must choose
To rise again and again-
To become-
My knight in shining armor
That slays the darkness
By growing into-
A better human.

I am not the person
I used to be.
But I am becoming
The person
I choose to be.
I am millions
Of sparkling lights
That dance across
The night sky-
I am the morning sun
Peeking over the horizon-
Bursting with
Magnificent colors
At sunrise-
Alive with hope.
Dancing with joy.
Giving gratitude-
And fighting
To keep shining
My love and light
From the purest
Parts of myself
Inside.

I am not the person
I used to be.
And I am finally ready
To accept the new me-
With open arms

-Tanielle ©️ 3.30.24